The Su-30 started out as an internal development project in the Sukhoi Su-27 family by Sukhoi. The design plan was revamped and the name was made official by the Russian Defense Ministry in 1996. Of the Flanker family, only the Su-27, Su-30, Su-34 and Su-35 have been ordered into serial production by the Defense Ministry. All the others, such as Su-37, were prototypes. The Su-30 has two distinct version branches, manufactured by competing organisations: KnAAPO and the Irkut Corporation, both of which come under the Sukhoi group's umbrella.

KnAAPO manufactures the Su-30MKK and the Su-30MK2, which were designed for and sold to China, and later Indonesia, Uganda, Venezuela, and Vietnam. Due to KnAAPO's involvement from the early stages of developing Su-35, these are basically a two-seat version of the mid-1990s Su-35. The Chinese chose an older but lighter radar so the canards could be omitted in return for increased payload. It is a fighter with both air supremacy and attack capabilities, generally similar to the U.S. F-15E.[6]

Irkut traditionally served the Soviet Air Defense and, in the early years of Flanker development, was given the responsibility of manufacturing the Su-27UB, the two-seat trainer version. When India showed interests in the Su-30, Irkut offered the multirole Su-30MKI, which originated as the Su-27UB modified with avionics appropriate for fighters. Along with its ground-attack capabilities, the series adds features for the air-superiority role, such as canards, thrust-vectoring, and a long-range phased-array radar. Its derivatives include the Su-30MKM, MKA, and SM for Malaysia, Algeria, and Russia, respectively. The Russian Air Force operates several Su-30s and has ordered the Su-30SM version.

While the original Su-27 had good range, it still did not have enough range for the Soviet Air Defense Forces (PVO, as opposed to VVS – the Soviet Air Force). The Air Defense Forces needed to cover the vast expanse of the Soviet Union. Hence, development began in 1986 on the Su-27PU, an improved-capability variant of the Su-27 capable of serving as a long-range interceptor or airborne command post.[7]

The two-seat Su-27UB combat trainer was selected as the basis for the Su-27PU, because it had the performance of a single-seat Su-27 and long-range missions require two crew members. A "proof-of-concept" demonstrator flew 6 June 1987, and this success led to the kick-off of development work on two Su-27PU prototypes. The first Su-27PU flew at Irkutsk on 31 December 1989, and the first of three pre-production models flew on 14 April 1992.[8]

The integrated aerodynamic configuration, combined with the thrust vectoring control ability, results in high manoeuvrability and unique takeoff and landing characteristics. Equipped with a digital fly-by-wire system, the Su-30 is able to perform some very advanced manoeuvres, including the Pugachev's Cobra and the tailslide. These manoeuvers quickly decelerate the aircraft, causing a pursuing fighter to overshoot, as well as breaking a Dopplerradar-lock, as the relative speed of the aircraft drops below the threshold where the signal registers to the radar.[9]

With a normal fuel reserve of 5,270 kg, the Su-30MK is capable of performing a 4.5-hour combat mission with a range of 3,000 km. An aerial refueling system increases the range to 5,200 km (3,200 mi) or flight duration up to 10 hours at cruise altitudes.[10][11]

The aircraft features autopilot ability at all flight stages including low-altitude flight in terrain-following radar mode, and individual and group combat employment against air and ground/sea-surface targets. Automatic control system interconnected with the navigation system ensures route flight, target approach, recovery to airfield and landing approach in automatic mode.

Thailand formally requested information for the possible acquisition of the Su-30MK/MK2. However, the Saab Gripen was procured instead.[16]

In February 2016, Russia and Belarus concluded a preliminary agreement that would see the export of an undisclosed number of Su-30s to Belarus.[17]

The Iran defense minister announced in February 2016 of its country intention to buy an undisclosed number of the Su-30SM fighters.[18]

In January 2016, Armenian Defense Minister Seyran Ohanyan mentioned that Russia had discussed the possibility of supplying Su-30 fighters to Armenia during a four-day Russian-Armenian intergovernmental commission on bilateral military-technical cooperation.[19]

Sukhoi proposal for upgrading Russian AF single seat Su-27S. Also proposed export version for Indonesia, 24 were ordered but subsequently cancelled due to the 1997 Asian Financial Crisis.[20]

Su-30KN

Upgrade project for operational two-seat fighters, the Su-27UB, Su-30 and Su-30K. This was cancelled in Russia but later revived as Su-30M2. Belarus consider updating ex-Indian Su-30K to the Su-30KN standard.[21]

A version from manufacturer KnAAPO based on the Su-30MK2. The Russian Air Force placed an initial order for the variant in 2009. Factory tests were completed in September 2010.[23][24][25] Twenty aircraft have been ordered; 4 in 2009 and 16 in 2012.[26] At least 12 have been produced as of August 2014, all four from the first contract in 2009, and eight from the second contract of 2012.[26] They are mostly to be used as combat training aircraft for upgraded Su-27SM fighters.

MKI stands for "Modernizirovannyi, Kommercheskiy, Indiski" meaning "Modernized, Commercial, Indian". Jointly-developed with Hindustan Aeronautics Limited for the Indian Air Force. Includes thrust vectoring control (TVC) and canards. Equipped with a multinational avionics complex sourced from Russia, India, France and Israel.[27]

A version of the Su-30MKI, except with French and Russian avionics for Algeria.[32]

Su-30SM

A specialised version of the thrust-vectoring Su-30MKI and MKM variants for the Russian military, produced by the Irkut Corporation.[33][34]Russia's Defence Ministry was impressed with the MKI's performance envelope and ordered 30 Su-30SMs, a localised version of Su-30MKI, for the Russian Air Force.[35] The Su-30SM is considered as 4+ gen jet fighter.[36][37][38][39][40][41] The new version has been upgraded based on Russian military requirements for radar, radio communications systems, friend-or-foe identification system, ejection seats, weapons, and other aircraft systems.[42][43] The aircraft is equipped with the Bars-R radar and the wide-angle HUD.[34][43][44][45][46] A contract for 60 of the multirole fighter was signed in March 2012 with delivery by 2016.[47] On 21 September 2012 Su-30SM performed its maiden flight.[48] The export version, the SU-30SME was unveiled at the Singapore Airshow 2016.[49]

Angolan Air Force ordered 18 Su-30K fighters on 16 October 2013 as part of a $1 billion deal that also included other equipment and maintenance services for the country. The Su-30Ks were initially delivered to India in the 1990s, but were returned to Russia in 2007.[53]

Venezuelan Air Force and the government of Venezuela announced on 14 June 2006 the purchase of 24 units of the Su-30MK2. The first two Su-30MK2s arrived in early December 2006 while another 8 were commissioned during 2007; 14 more units arrived in 2008.[69][70] A second batch of 12 Su-30MKV was also being considered in 2009, it never proceed further.[20] It has 24 Su-30MK2s as of January 2012.[71] In October 2015, Venezuela announced the purchase of 12 more Su-30MK2 from Russia for $480 million.[72][73]

Vietnam

Vietnam People's Air Force operates 4 Su-30MKs and 20 Su-30MK2Vs in 2013.[32] On 21 August 2013, Russia announced it would deliver another batch of 12 Su-30MK2s under a $450 million contract, with deliveries in 2014-2015.[74]

Su-30MK's combat load is mounted on 12 hardpoints: 2 wingtip AAM launch rails, 3 pylons under each wing, 1 pylon under each engine nacelle, and 2 pylons in tandem in the "arch" between the engines. All versions can carry up to 8 tonnes of external stores.

30 April 2009: an Indian Air Force Su-30MKI crashed near Jaisalmer. A pilot died.[77]

30 November 2009: an Indian Air Force Su-30MKI crashed near Jaisalmer. The pilots survived.[78]

13 December 2011: an Indian Air Force Su-30MKI crashed near Pune. Both the pilots ejected and survived the crash.[79]

14 October 2014: an Indian Air Force Su-30MKI crashed in the village of Theoor (near Pune) at 5:30 PM. Both pilots survived.[80]

19 May 2015 : an Indian Air Force Su-30MKI crashed 36 km away from Tezpur air base. Both pilots survived.[81]

17 September 2015 : a Venezuelan Air Force Su-30MK2 crashed in Southern Venezuela, near the town of Elorza while intercepting a small drug-smuggling aircraft.[82] Both pilots died.

14 June 2016 : a Vietnam People's Air Force Su-30MK2 crashed near Hon Mat Island (Thanh Hoa Province) while on a training flight. One pilot, Sr Lt. Col Tran Quang Khai died. The C-212-400 from the search and rescue team also crashed near Bach Long Vi Island with nine crew members aboard while searching for the other pilot along with Vietnam Coast Guard ships, other Vietnam People's Navy ships, and military aircraft. This crash lead the Air Force to ground its Su-30 fleet until further investigation has been completed.[citation needed]